Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

I have read islamic history aftermath of prophet`s passing away physically from the face of the earth, banu ummayya particularly hadhrat maavya did many mistakes apart from his valuable sevices to the islam but he seemed to be greedy to make his son yazid as khalifa who was not a right muslim and he knew this and maavya motivated to fight the battle of "siffin" with rightly guided khalifa and beloved son in law of prophet(pbuh) ali ibn abi talib, so my question keeping in mind all these facts about maavya, how could he be considered a right person and be praised by some sunni ulemas. 

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Answer:

Hadrat Muawiya and Ali

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Beloved brother in Islam, any person who was fortunate enough to see and witness the Messenger of Allah (saws) in person, accept and enter the fold of Islam on the blessed hand of the Messenger of Allah (saws), and that person died in the state of belief, they will be considered and included amongst the noble companions of the Messenger of Allah (saws)...and it is the precise Command of the Messenger of Allah (saws) himself that the believers who follow aught to respect and honor all his companions.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 5.2 Narrated by Imran bin Husain

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "The best of my followers are those living in my generation (i.e. his companions), and then (2^nd best are) those who will follow them (the first generation), then (the 3^rd best are) those who follow them."

Sahih Muslim HadithH 6167 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Allah's Messenger (saws) said: ‘Do not revile my Companions! Do not revile my Companions! By Him in Whose Hand is my life, if one amongst you would have spent as much gold as Uhud it would not amount to as much as one ‘mudd’ (a small measurement of food) on behalf of one of them, or even half of it!’

Thus, although Hadrat Ali ibn Abi Taalib (r.a.) and Hadrat Muawiyya (r.a.) are both companions of the Prophet (saws), the truth is that the difference between their individual ranks is incomparable….as Declared by none other than Allah Subhanah in His Glorious Quran!

Allah says Himself in the Holy Quran Chapter 59 Surah Hashr verse 8, in appreciation of the early companions of the Holy Prophet who migrated for Islam,:

They (the companions who migrated from Makkah to Medina) seek Allah’s bounty and His goodwill, and are ever ready to succour Allah and His Messenger. They indeed are the truthful.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 9 Surah Taubah verse 100:

Allah was well pleased with those Muhajirs and Ansaar who were the first to respond to the invitation of the Faith, and with those also, who followed them in their righteous conduct, and they too, were well pleased with Allah. Allah has got ready for them Gardens, underneath which, canals flow, and they will abide therein for ever. This is the Greatest Success.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 57 Surah Hadid verse 10:

10 And what cause have ye why ye should not spend in the cause of Allah? For to Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth. Not equal among you are those who spent (freely) and fought (in Allah’s Cause) before the Victory (of Makkah 8 years after Hijrah)….(with those who did so later). Those are higher in rank than those who spent and fought afterwards. But to all has Allah promised a goodly (reward) and Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.

Hadrat Ali (r.a.) was undoubtedly one amongst the earliest companions who accepted the call of Prophet Mohamed (saws) and one amongst those fortunate beings who migrated from Makkah to Medina for the Cause of Allah Subhanah; Hadrat Muawwiya (r.a.) accepted Islam only at the verge of the Victory of Makkah eight years after the Hijrah or migration and two years before the death of the Noble Prophet (saws).

Hadrat Ali (r.a.) faced every trial with the Noble Prophet (saws) that the believing community faced at the hands of the disbelieving Quraish; he (r.a.) fought alongside the Prophet (saws) at the Battle of Badr, and Uhd, and Ahzaab, etc.; he (r.a.) was amongst those who gave the ‘Bayt e-Ridhwaan’ to the Prophet (saws); and Hadrat Ali (r.a.) was one of those few and numbered companions unto whom the Prophet (saws) declared in their own lifetime, that they will enter Paradise (Ashara Mubasshereen)!

Thus the truth is brother, it would simply be unfair to compare the rank and stature of Hadrat Ali (r.a.) with Hadrat Muawwiya (r.a.) ….. or even with any of the other hundred thousand plus companions, except a very selected few!

Your Question: ….so my question keeping in mind all these facts about maavya, how could he be considered a right person and be praised by some sunni ulemas. 

Because Hadrat Muawwiya (r.a.) witnessed the Noble Messenger of Allah (saws) in person, accepted Islam and entered the fold of Islam at the very hands of the Messenger of Allah (saws), and died in the state of belief….he will be accorded the same honor and respect that is due from the believers unto every single companion of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

The companions of the Noble Messenger of Allah (saws) were not Prophets….and thus as human beings they were all prone to error and shortcomings. Whatever shortcomings one amongst the noble companions of the Messenger of Allah (saws) might have had…..it is known to Allah Subhanah Alone…and The Lord All-Knowing All-Just Alone will Determine their deeds with Truth and Justice on that Inevitable Day of Judgment. It is not for mere mortals and abject sinners like you and me to sit down 1400+ years later and decide or determine whether they or anyone else should be the recipient of the Lord’s Mercy or not!

The deen of Islam was completed, the Glorious Quran completely revealed, and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) was established at the time of the death of the Noble Prophet (saws). Whatever happened after the death of the Prophet (saws) is the History of the Muslims, and this is in the knowledge of Allah Alone. Allah will not hold us accountable for the deeds of these people, nor ask us about them on the Day of Judgment. We will be asked about our deeds and what did we do for the cause of Islam.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 134:

They were a people who passed away. They shall receive the reward of what they earned, and you shall have the reward of what you will earn. And you will not be questioned as to what they did.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan